Interview by Danielle Murray '12; Written by Kristen DeCarli, Sports Information Director
The year of 1997 will always stand out in the life of former Albertus Magnus standout Diana Burroughs '98.
Burroughs, who was a two-sport athlete for the Falcons during her four-year career, made herself well known on both the basketball court as well as the softball diamond throughout the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
The year 1997, however, was the West Haven, Connecticut native's most successful year while at Albertus. As a junior, Burroughs was named the GNAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year after the 1996-97 season then in the spring of 1997, she was tagged as the GNAC Softball Player of the Year.
To this day, Burroughs is the only student-athlete in GNAC history to be named the Player of the Year in two different sports. Not only did she earn the top recoginition in two different sports while at Albertus, but she did so in the same academic year.
Burroughs played an important role in the history of both programs and set the bar high for future Falcons.
Throughout her career, Burroughs played in 109 games and scored 1,210 points, while averaging 11.2 points per game for the Albertus women's basketball team. She registered 612 rebounds, 323 assists and 171 steals for the Falcons and scored over 350 points in three of her four seasons.
As a freshman, she led the Falcons to the NEWAC Championship Title, while the 1994-95 team was also the ECAC runner-up. She and her teammates from that year were inducted into the Albertus Magnus Hall of Fame in 2009 as she played for then head coach Jim Ferraro, who is also a Hall of Fame member.
Burroughs is one of nine Albertus Magnus women's basketball players who have scored over 1,000 points as she stands in seventh place on the all-time scoring list.
Burroughs' softball career was highlighted by her Player of the Year honor in 1997. During that year, she hit .442 with eight doubles, five triples and five home runs. She tallied 31 RBI and 67 total bases in 23 games played. She also thrived as a senior as she recorded a season-best 37 hits, 10 triples and 72 total bases. During that season, Burroughs led the country in triples per game, while her 0.42 average still ranks sixth in the nation, according to the 2010 NCAA Division III record book (the latest book published).
During her successful junior year, she helped then head coach Mark Giordano lead the Falcons to the 1997 GNAC Tournament Championship title.
For Burroughs, it was a priority to play sports, and her dedication paid off when she continued her career at Albertus. Sports were her motivation, both on and off the field or court.
"It (sports) made me excel more in the classroom because, coming from an athletic family, I was always taught that if I didn't do well in the classroom then I couldn't play," said Burroughs. "Sports were something that I enjoyed and I loved, so I knew in my mind that I had to get good grades in order to play. It motivated me a little bit."
To Burroughs, sports were not her only priority in life, but family was as well. She came to Albertus to follow her big sister and during a visit with the basketball team; she knew it was the right fit.
"My sister was a senior when I was a freshman (at Albertus)," Burroughs' stated. "She had a lot of impact on me choosing the school because I was close to her and I wanted to be with her. I also went to visit with the basketball team and I had a great time. The girls were great."
In addition to her sister, her mother and grandmother were major influences on her life, especially as a child.
"Growing up, my grandmother and mom were always there during my high school athletics," she said. "At Albertus, my mom traveled to just about all of my games and my grandmother was able to make the ones that she did. Without my mother's support I probably wouldn't have done as well as I did."
Throughout the years of individual successes, Burroughs was never changed by the spotlight. She was a college student-athlete, determined to excel both in the classroom and in athletics.
"I don't regret anything and I wouldn't go back and change anything," she said. "I made a lot of good friends at Albertus and we had a lot of good times."
Burroughs continues to play in softball leagues during the summer, while professionally, she has worked as a correctional officer for 11 years.
